MIDLIFE: It’s Not a Crisis, It’s an Evaluation

An episode of the The Paula Faris Show podcast, hosted by That Sounds Fun Network, titled "MIDLIFE: It’s Not a Crisis, It’s an Evaluation" was published on November 18, 2025 and runs 29 minutes.

November 18, 2025 ·29m · The Paula Faris Show

Summary

Some people call it a midlife crisis. I’m calling mine a midlife evaluation.  Continuing our month-long series on MIDLIFE, we’re sharing the unexpected (and slightly hilarious) ways our “evaluations” have shown up: from tattoos, to a concealed weapons permit that’s never been used, and a Jeep lifted high enough to require a stretch routine. Liz, John, and I unpack why this season hits so hard—especially for women—and why the language we use to describe it actually shapes how we experience it. Instead of imagining midlife as the beginning of the end, we talk about reframing it as the beginning of the good stuff: the part of the rollercoaster where the ride gets fast, wild, and surprisingly fun. Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It.  Listen in to learn more : (00:00) Midlife Surprises and Laughter  (10:01) Avoiding Midlife Crisis Through Reflection  (12:42) Nervous Anticipation of Kids Leaving  (23:48) Numbing Midlife Unraveling In this episode, we are digging into defining a midlife crisis, things that can trigger a midlife crisis, the importance of reflection and taking time to reevaluate our lives, cultural changes in how we think about aging, why the stories we tell ourselves matter, reevaluating what success looks like, and why a midlife crisis is not always a bad thing.  Sponsor: Cozy Earth – Luxury Bedding and Loungewear  Cozy Earth offers luxury bedding and loungewear known for its incredible softness and temperature regulation. Browse today. Never worry about sleeping hot again! Head to ⁠cozyearth.com ⁠ and use my code PAULA for up to  40% off! Want to advertise on my show? Link HERE Sign up to receive Paula’s email, where she keeps it real about what it’s like being a parent in America. And, if you’re a working mom, make sure you’re getting The CARRY ALL email, the load-lessening newsletter for and by working moms.  Connect with Liz Bohannon Connect with John Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Description